Member Spotlight: Meet Connor Sergent

When Connor Sergent first joined the Shiawassee County Road Commission (SCRC), he was hesitant to join the union. A negative experience at a previous union shop left him concerned that an AFSCME membership would yield the same disappointing results. For nearly two years, he worked alongside several union members, listening, observing, and trying to understand the value of being a union member.

It wasn’t until he realized the mechanics department needed a louder voice that he finally got involved.

“I also felt it was important to have a mechanic become involved in some way to express challenges or problems we may face that might differ from the other employees at the SCRC,” said Sergent.

As a mechanic, Sergent is responsible for maintaining and repairing all equipment owned by the SCRC. Because his daily challenges differ significantly from the road crews, he realized the best way to have his workplace issues addressed was to join the union and claim a seat at the table.

What began as an opportunity to air departmental concerns quickly grew into a deep understanding of what solidarity actually means.

“Solidarity by definition means unity or agreement of feeling or action among individuals with a common interest. At the end of the day, like anyone else, we all have a job to do; however, I feel our group at the SCRC, as well as all other members of AFSCME, shares a common interest in the people we serve. Most of us serve the communities we and our family or friends live in, having that solidarity amongst those employees is crucial and deeply beneficial to not just our loved ones but the general public in those communities we serve.”

Today, Sergent has taken his commitment a step further. He was recently elected Chapter Chair of his Local. He now encourages everyone to take an active part in their union. Whether it’s speaking to a leader about workplace issues, attending union meetings, or taking on a leadership role, he stresses the importance of coming together to continuously improve the workplace and provide the best possible service to the public.

Sergent is a natural leader and a prime example of the heart of AFSCME: a dedicated public servant working to better his community.